Casing for vending-machines.



I. BRANDT.

CASiNG FOR VENDING MACHINES.

APPUCATION FILED FEB-7,1917.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

GUM

v QHOCOLATE CONFEOTIONS Jokn/ Brand -i, E l i UNITED STATES PATENT orator.

JOHN BRANDT, 0F BRONX, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

AUTOSALES CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CASING FOR VENDING-MACHINES.

Application filed February 7, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BRANDT, a eitizen of the United States, and a resident of Bronx, in the county of Bronx and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casings for Vending-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to casings for vending machines and its object is to produce a casing having readily removable sections on the front panel thereof.

As is well known, vending machines are usually provided with signs on the casing to describe to the intending purchaser the character of the goods obtainable from the machine. Heretofore, the front panels of these machines were provided with a solid front plate carrying suitable descriptive matter pertaining to the character or quality of the goods in the machine. Whenever it became necessary to change the kinds of goods sold by the machine, the agent in charge of the machine had to send the entire machine back to the factory in order to replace the old front panel by a new one provided with descriptive matter applicable to the new kinds of goods to be put into the machine. This involved a great deal of expense-including the cost of an entire new plate for the front panel, the cost of freight and the loss of earnings during the time in which the machine would necessarily be out of operation. Some of these machines may be hundreds and thousands of miles from the factory, and it is readily seen that under these conditions the total cost of providing new front panels or new front metal plates for the panels was considerable.

The changing of the brands of goods in a machine is sometimes very frequent and may be due to different reasons. The goods may have to be changed because of an expiring contract with the manufacturer supplying the goods, or because of the particular location in which certain machines are to be used. For instance, in some locations a machine which in cool weather contains chewing gum and chocolate, will during the hot weather be stocked only with chewing gum. In this event it is necessary to re- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

Serial No. 147,045.

place the previous front panel, which contained descriptive matter for chewing gum and chocolate, by a panel on which only chewing gthn is advertised, so as not to deceive the public.

I can say of my own knowledge that the expense of changing the advertising plates on these front panels has in numerous instances amounted to more than five dollars per machine. It will be readily seen that where thousands .of machines have to be altered in this way frequently, the cost of such alterations runs into a considerable figure, which greatly lessens the earning capacity of the machines.

Now, it is the purpose of my invention to obviate all of the foregoing objections, by providing a front panel with readily removable and insertible plate sections which carry the desired descriptive matter for the goods in the machine. By my invention, whenever it is found necessary to vary the descriptive matter on the front panel, all that is required is to remove the desired plate section and substitute another with the required descriptive matter. This can be done in a few moments by the agent in charge of the machine, and no loss of time or expense is involved, except the cost of the new plate section, which would be negligible.

The above and other objects and ad vantages of my invention will be more clearly understood from a detailed description of the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of a vending machine casing provided with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in section taken approximately on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the sides of the easing in the front panel; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modified form of means for preventing the removable plate sections from falling out of the front panel when the latter is removed from the casing.

The casing may be of any approved conerated'.

struction, and the one shown for illustra tion in the drawing includes a bottom 1, sides 2 and 3, a top or cover 4, and a front panel indicated as a whole by 5.

lVithin the machine is the coin-controlled delivery mechanism by means of which a piece of goods is delivered through the delivery opening 6 whenever a proper coin is deposited and one of the plungers 7 op- The coin-openings are shown at 8. As the delivery mechanism forms no part of my invention, it has not been thought necessary to show any form of mechanism in the drawings. It is sufficient to say that when a coin is deposited in one of the coin openings 8 and the corresponding plunger 7 pushed in, a piece of goods will fall through the delivery opening 6 within the reach of the purchaser.

The front panel 5, which 18 approxim ately rectangular in form, is removable from the casing, so as to permitaccess to the upright goods magazines withln, as when it is de sired to replenish the machine. The panel 5 is locked in place on the casing by any suitable meanssuch as a lock 9 having a bolt 10 which enters a recess in the top 4:, as shown in Fig. 2.

The front panel 5 comprises sides 11 and 12, a top bar 13, a bottom bar 14- and intermediate crossbars 15, 16 and 17. The number .of cross bars is, of course immaterial. There may be one or more. In the specific embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the panel includes three intermediatecross bars which with the top and bottom bars form spaces or openings indicated at 18, 19, 20 and 21. The bars 13, 14c, 15, 16 and 17 are provided with longitudinal grooves or recesses 22. The top and bottom bars have one groove each, while the intermediate bars have each two grooves.

The front of the panel 5 is provided with 'a frame 23, preferably of metal, which covers approximately the entire front wall of the panel. The frame 23 is secured to the panel in any suitable manner, as by screws 24 or the like. The frame piece 23 is provided with apertures 25, 26, 27 and 28,-which are in alinement with the openings 18, 19, 20 and 21, respectively.

Each pair of adjacent grooves or recesses 22 in the cross bars of the panel is adapted to receive and hold a plate or plate section preferably of sheet metal. These plate sections are indicated in the drawings by the numerals 29, 30 and 31. The lowermost plate section 32 is of glass or other trans parent material for the purpose of exposing a portion of the goods within the machine.

The plate sections are inserted in the panel through slots or openings in one side of the panel. In the drawings, these sideslots or openings are at the right of the panel, as

best indicated at 33 in Fig. 4. To limit the inward movement of the plate sections, I provide suitable meanssuch as stops 34:, against which the inner edge of the plate section abuts, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4:.

As clearly seen from Figs. 3 and 4, when the front panel 5 is in proper position on the casing, the plate sections become automatically locked against removal.

It will be clear from the foregoing that When it is desired to change or remove any of the descriptive matter appearing on the front panel 5 of the casing, it is only necessary to remove the front panel and then slide out the proper plate sections, and substitute another plate section bearing the desired markings. This can readily be' done by the man in charge of the machine, who would be provided with the necessary extra plate sections.

To prevent the plate sections from accidentally dropping out of the panel when the latter is removed from the casing, I pro vide suitable means for retaining the plate section in position on the panel. In Figs. 2 and 3 I have shown a leaf spring 35 bearing against the back side of each plate section. This leaf spring may be conveniently secured to one of the side pieces of the front panel, as indicated at 36 in Fig. 3.

Or, in place of the spring 35, I may employ a readily removable screw or similar member 37, which projects across the entrance-slot for the plate section and thereby i holds it against falling out.

Although I have herein set forth a specific construction, I would have it understood that my invention is not to be limited to the exact details shown.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a vending machine, a casing having an approximately rectangular front panel removably fitting in between the sides of the casing, spaced cross bars arranged between the sides of said panel, aid cross bars being at their adjacent sides provided with longitudinal grooves or recesses, said panel having slots or openings at one side in alinement with the space between each pair of grooves, a frame secured to the front of said panel and substantially covering the same, said frame being provided with apertures in alinement with the space between said cross bars, and plate sections for said apertures adapted to be inserted through said side slots into said grooves or recesses, whereby said plate sections are supported independ ently of each other between said bars, so that each plate section is readily l'QDlOJP-blfi from the panel through the corresponding side slot thereof without disturbing the other sections,.said plate sections being locked in place when the panel is in normal position on the casing.

2. In a vending machine, a casing having an approximately rectangular front panel removably fitting in between the sides of the casing, spaced cross bars arranged between the sides of said panel, said cross bars being at their adjacent sides provided with longitudinal grooves or recesses, said panel having slots or openings at one side in alinement with the space between each pair of grooves, a frame secured to the front of said panel and substantially covering the same, said frame being provided with apertures in alinement with the space between said cross bars, plate sections for said apertures adapted to be inserted through said side slots into said grooves or recesses, whereby said plate sections are supported independently of each other between said bars, so that each plate section is readily removable from the panel through the corresponding side slot thereof without disturbing the other sections, said plate sections being locked in place when the panel is in normal position on the casing, and stops arranged at the other side of said panel to positively limit the inward movement of said plate sections.

3. In a vending machine, a casing having an approximately rectangular front panel removably fitting in between the sides of the casing, spaced cross bars arranged between the sides of said panel, said cross bars being at their adjacent sides provided with longitudinal grooves or recesses, said panel having slots or openings at one side in alinement with the space between each pair of grooves, a frame secured to the front of said panel and substantially covering the same, said frame being provided with apertures in alinement with the spaces between said cross bars, plate sections for said apertures adapted to be inserted through said side slots into said grooves or recesses, whereby said plate sections are supported independently of each other between said bars, so that each plate section is readily removable from the panel through the corresponding side slot thereof without disturbing the other sections, said plate sections being locked in place when the panel is in normal position on the casing, stops arranged at the other side of said panel to positively limit the inward movement of said plate sections,

' and means engaging said plate sections to retain them in said panel when the latter is out of normal position.

4. In a vending machine, a casing having an approximately rectangular front panel removably fitting in between the sides of the casing, said panel comprising a main body portion and a front frame portion attached to said main body portion, said frame portion being provided with spaced apertures, a separate plate section for each of said apertures, and means on said main body portion for supporting said plate sections independently of each other back of said apertures, each of said plate sections being readily insertible on and removable from said panel without disturbing the other sections when the panel is out of normal position, said plate sections being automatically locked in position on said panel when the latter is in normal position on the casing.

5. In a vending machine, a casing having a front panel removably fitting in between the sides of the casing, spaced cross-bars arranged between the sides of said panel, said cross-bars being at their adjacent sides provided with longitudinal grooves or recesses, said panel having slots or openings at one side in alinement with the space between each pair of grooves, a frame secured to the front of said panel and substantially covering the same, said frame being provided with apertures in alinement with the spaces between said cross-bars, plate sections for said apertures adapted to be inserted through said side slots into said grooves or recesses, whereby said plate sections are supported independently of each other between said bars, so that each plate section is readily removable from the panel without disturbing the other sections, said plate sections being locked in place when the panel is in 'normal position on the casing, and means releasably engaging said plate sections to retain them in said panel when the latter is out of normal position, so as to prevent said sections from sliding through said side openings.

6. In a vending machine, a casing having a front panel removably fitting in between the sides of the casing, spaced cross-bars arranged between the sides of said panel, said panel having slots at one side each in alinement with the space between an upper and a lower bar, the front of said panel having apertures opposite said spaces, plate sections adapted to be inserted through said side slots into said spaces between the bars, and means for holding said plate sections firmly in place between said bars opposite said front apertures, each plate section being supported on the panel independently of the others and removable through its corresponding side slot without disturbing the other sections, said plate sections being locked against removal when the panel is in normal position on the casing.

7. In a vending machine, a casing having a front panel removably fitting in between the sides of the casing, said panel being provided with a plurality ;of transverse openings suitably spaced from each other, a pair of transverse grooves or channels provided on said panel at the top and bottom of each of said openings, said panel having slots at one side in alinenient With said transverse openings, and plate sections adapted to be inserted through said side 5 slots into said grooves, each pair of grooves supporting a plate section independently of the other pairs of grooves, whereby each plate section is removable from its pair of supporting grooves through the corresponding side slot Without disturbing the other 10 plate sections.

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 5th day of February, 1917. JOHN BRANDT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 1M1. 

